In 1942, 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin Jr. was in North Africa with the 1st Division. The M3 tank, workhorse of the 1st Division, was an ugly thing. Its top turret always reminded 2d Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, Jr., of a hatbox about to fall off a closet shelf. The inside space was cramped, and a tank commander going into battle had to keep the overhead hatch open if he wanted to see anything. The crews liked their unlovely beasts anyway. The M3 was fast, and its 37-mm cannon packed plenty of wallop; so did the antiaircraft machine gun. They would be needed, for Daubin's battalion was going into Tunisia alone. There was no artillery support and no infantry alongside.
The experience of 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, commander of Company A in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Armored Division, was a vivid demonstration of the M3's weaknesses. Shortly after it landed in North Africa in 1942, Daubin's company was attacked by German Mark IV tanks, which carried 75-mm guns. Dueling a Mark IV head to head, Daubin made seventeen consecutive hits with his 37mm gun. They chipped some paint from the German's frontal armor. The German commander waited until he was only thirty yards away, and blew Daubin out of his turret with a single shot. Later, in an ambulance headed for the rear, Daubin found himself lying next to a wounded German, who confidently predicted that Germany would win the war. Lt. Daubin asked the German why and the German answered, "Because the Americans built such awful tanks."
Lt. Daubin survived and would go on to be in another war this time in Korea. Still with the Armored units, Daubin Jr. now a major was in the 7th CAV Regiment in the 1st CAV Division and sent to Korea. On August 9, 1950 Major Daubin was seriously wounded in a missile attack. He was sent home to recover and was separated from the Army on September 14, 1950 due to his wounds. He did recover and moved to the Clackamas, Oregon area and passed away on 22 April 1973 in San Diego, California.
His father, RADM Freeland Allyn Daubin Sr., was a submarine commander in the United States Navy who served during World War I and World War II.
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/U_111.html
The experience of 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, commander of Company A in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Armored Division, was a vivid demonstration of the M3's weaknesses. Shortly after it landed in North Africa in 1942, Daubin's company was attacked by German Mark IV tanks, which carried 75-mm guns. Dueling a Mark IV head to head, Daubin made seventeen consecutive hits with his 37mm gun. They chipped some paint from the German's frontal armor. The German commander waited until he was only thirty yards away, and blew Daubin out of his turret with a single shot. Later, in an ambulance headed for the rear, Daubin found himself lying next to a wounded German, who confidently predicted that Germany would win the war. Lt. Daubin asked the German why and the German answered, "Because the Americans built such awful tanks."
Lt. Daubin survived and would go on to be in another war this time in Korea. Still with the Armored units, Daubin Jr. now a major was in the 7th CAV Regiment in the 1st CAV Division and sent to Korea. On August 9, 1950 Major Daubin was seriously wounded in a missile attack. He was sent home to recover and was separated from the Army on September 14, 1950 due to his wounds. He did recover and moved to the Clackamas, Oregon area and passed away on 22 April 1973 in San Diego, California.
His father, RADM Freeland Allyn Daubin Sr., was a submarine commander in the United States Navy who served during World War I and World War II.
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/U_111.html
In 1942, 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin Jr. was in North Africa with the 1st Division. The M3 tank, workhorse of the 1st Division, was an ugly thing. Its top turret always reminded 2d Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, Jr., of a hatbox about to fall off a closet shelf. The inside space was cramped, and a tank commander going into battle had to keep the overhead hatch open if he wanted to see anything. The crews liked their unlovely beasts anyway. The M3 was fast, and its 37-mm cannon packed plenty of wallop; so did the antiaircraft machine gun. They would be needed, for Daubin's battalion was going into Tunisia alone. There was no artillery support and no infantry alongside.
The experience of 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, commander of Company A in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Armored Division, was a vivid demonstration of the M3's weaknesses. Shortly after it landed in North Africa in 1942, Daubin's company was attacked by German Mark IV tanks, which carried 75-mm guns. Dueling a Mark IV head to head, Daubin made seventeen consecutive hits with his 37mm gun. They chipped some paint from the German's frontal armor. The German commander waited until he was only thirty yards away, and blew Daubin out of his turret with a single shot. Later, in an ambulance headed for the rear, Daubin found himself lying next to a wounded German, who confidently predicted that Germany would win the war. Lt. Daubin asked the German why and the German answered, "Because the Americans built such awful tanks."
Lt. Daubin survived and would go on to be in another war this time in Korea. Still with the Armored units, Daubin Jr. now a major was in the 7th CAV Regiment in the 1st CAV Division and sent to Korea. On August 9, 1950 Major Daubin was seriously wounded in a missile attack. He was sent home to recover and was separated from the Army on September 14, 1950 due to his wounds. He did recover and moved to the Clackamas, Oregon area and passed away on 22 April 1973 in San Diego, California.
His father, RADM Freeland Allyn Daubin Sr., was a submarine commander in the United States Navy who served during World War I and World War II.
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/U_111.html
The experience of 2nd Lt. Freeland A. Daubin, commander of Company A in the 1st Battalion of the 1st Armored Division, was a vivid demonstration of the M3's weaknesses. Shortly after it landed in North Africa in 1942, Daubin's company was attacked by German Mark IV tanks, which carried 75-mm guns. Dueling a Mark IV head to head, Daubin made seventeen consecutive hits with his 37mm gun. They chipped some paint from the German's frontal armor. The German commander waited until he was only thirty yards away, and blew Daubin out of his turret with a single shot. Later, in an ambulance headed for the rear, Daubin found himself lying next to a wounded German, who confidently predicted that Germany would win the war. Lt. Daubin asked the German why and the German answered, "Because the Americans built such awful tanks."
Lt. Daubin survived and would go on to be in another war this time in Korea. Still with the Armored units, Daubin Jr. now a major was in the 7th CAV Regiment in the 1st CAV Division and sent to Korea. On August 9, 1950 Major Daubin was seriously wounded in a missile attack. He was sent home to recover and was separated from the Army on September 14, 1950 due to his wounds. He did recover and moved to the Clackamas, Oregon area and passed away on 22 April 1973 in San Diego, California.
His father, RADM Freeland Allyn Daubin Sr., was a submarine commander in the United States Navy who served during World War I and World War II.
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/U_111.html
Inscription
Major US Army
World War II
Korea
Silver Star
Purple Heart
Oak Leaf Cluster
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
